Police find firearm, cocaine after vehicle pursuit

March 18--SAN ANGELO -- Police found a firearm and cocaine in a Nissan Versa whose driver led police on a short chase and was involved in a single-vehicle crash early Friday.

Stephen Rodriguez, 24, of San Angelo was arrested and charged with evading arrest detention with vehicle, possession of controlled substance and unlawful carrying of a weapon, according to a San Angelo Police Department news release.

Just before 12:30 a.m., police were dispatched to the 400 block of West Beauregard Avenue for the report of a vehicle crash where a driver fled the scene. While responding to the call, an officer saw a silver passenger car with front-end damage traveling with no headlights, northbound in the 300 block of North Bryant Boulevard.

The officer attempted to stop the Nissan, but the driver kept going and a short, low-speed pursuit ensued. It ended when Rodriguez pulled over in the 3800 block of Armstrong Street, the release stated.

Rodriguez and his passenger, a 21-year-old woman, were taken into custody.

During search of the vehicle, officers found a firearm and a canister that contained a substance that field-tested positive for the presence of cocaine, the release stated.

Rodriguez and the woman were taken to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation. Upon Rodriguez's release, he was taken to the Tom Green County Jail and the woman was not charged. Rodriguez was being held in lieu of $15,500 bail on Friday.

A crash investigation showed Rodriguez's Nissan was traveling east on West Beauregard when it failed to control speed, left the roadway and crashed into a highway sign, street light pole and signal light box. No other vehicles were involved. Witnesses at the scene told officers that Rodriguez fled the scene once he learned bystanders called police, the release stated.

Rodriguez was issued citations for no insurance and failure to stop and give Information upon striking a fixed object.

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